Michigan

A Brontosaurus is installed in front of the Grand Rapids Public Museum on Thursday, October 17, in preparation for the Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit. Feathered animatronic dinosaurs and feathered fossils will be on display October 26.
(Emily Zoladz | Mlive.com)

The life-size Apatosaurus is just one of the many animatronic structures featured in the upcoming “Dinosaurs Unearthed” exhibit showing at the museum Oct. 26-April 27.

The exhibit will feature 15 animatronic dinosaurs, fossil casts and more than 35 fossils. There will be five interactive stations, including two where guests can control the dinosaur – making it roar, move, blink, plus a dig site for kids. Other interactive stations explore dinosaur sounds, anatomy and digestion.

“The exhibit runs from now until the end of April which covers all of the major school breaks,” Kate Moore, the museum’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations, said. “It’s a great opportunity to bring your kids.”

Admission to the exhibit is $12 for adults and $7 for children (member rate is $2 for adults and free for children). The exhibit cost is in addition to a general admission ticket to the museum. The museum is located at 272 Pearl St. NW in downtown Grand Rapids.

Much of the new exhibition explores the discovery of feathered dinosaurs and their connection to modern-day birds. Guests will see first-hand the fossil evidence that led scientists to believe that dinosaurs are the ancestors of modern birds rather than reptiles.

A Microraptor fossil is showcased, which represents one of the earliest discoveries of feathered dinosaurs.

“We knew we wanted to do another dinosaur exhibit,” said Tom Bantle, the museum’s Director of Exhibits and Facilities, who works together with a team to analyze exhibit proposals and select what will be shown at the museum. “It’s always good to bring them in on a rotation because there is always a new group of young people who want to see them.”

“We liked this one because it offered a nice variety of animatronic and robotic dinosaurs, cast skeletons and fossils,” Bantle said. “Our last exhibit, ‘Dinosaurs: Just Imagine,’ (in 2009) took these robotics and placed them in different settings that were not necessarily accurate to the time period. This one is going to be more accurate.”

MLive photographer Emily Zoladz was given behind-the-scenes access to the construction of the new exhibit. Check out the photo gallery to see how these beasts are made and what is in store you and your family on your next visit to the museum. A video of the construction of the Apatosaurus can be seen in the video above or by clicking here.

Details and museum admission prices and hours can be found at grmuseum.org.